Gad Cliff

Gad Cliff is a south-facing cliff face on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. It stands east of Worbarrow Tout and Pondfield Cove, with Gold Down behind it. The cliff is part of the Lulworth Ranges and reaches about 134 metres above sea level. Wagon Rock, a large boulder, has fallen from the upper parts to the shoreline below. The site is only accessible when the Lulworth Ranges are open to the public. The geology here is complex, showing visible sedimentary folding from 30 million years ago. The Purbeck Monocline created extreme angular layers of rock, with younger Cretaceous formations at the rear of Worbarrow Bay. At Gad Cliff, the sediments dip inland at 25 to 35 degrees, forming a huge S-shaped kink. The uppermost layer consists of Purbeck Beds and Portland limestones, lying over Portland Sands and Kimmeridge Clay. Harder limestones and sandstones over unstable clay make the cliff prone to landslides. Visitors find dramatic coastal views and striking geological features. The South West Coast Path leads to the cliff from Kimmeridge Bay or via an uphill walk from Tyneham. The ghost village of Tyneham lies about one kilometre north of the cliff. Worbarrow Bay, enclosed by Worbarrow Tout, is cut into softer clays and sands. The unstable nature of the cliff adds to the raw, rugged landscape.